Instructors need to "REFOCUS" in order to help maintain an effective class room, where students are eager to learn, and excited to be there. If the emotional thermometer of the class goes south, then learning takes a back seat to depression and the "I can't do it" attitude that effects both the student and the instructor.
Not to mention the issue of retention—who wants to attend a class where it seems like nothing is accomplished, let alone a school.
If we allow ourselves to set our students up as failures because we are not feeling 'It", then we really should re-assess our role in front of the classroom. Because we aren't hurting ourselves as much as we are our students.
When I first started out teaching and was shadowing in a class to learn the ropes, one of my mentors told me "The best instructors are good students".
I like that saying because it encompasses everything a good instructor should be.
We should always be vigilant in our search for new medias and methods to help reach our students. We should always be absorbing as much material as we possibly can to keep up with industry standards, as well as educational objectives. In doing so we understand what our students need, and keep our enthusiasm up at the same time.
That's no to say I have never suffered from a case of the melancholia, or have felt burned out beyond thought; but I have persevered, and risen to the occasion.
It's a matter of knowing that things will get better if we choose to do that little bit more than we think is reasonable.
The acronym "REFOCUS" doesn't apply to just instructors, it applies to life in general. If the head of the class is on target, focused, and enthusiastic the rest of the class will be as well.
And if one student is having troubles, how can we help them if we are unable to help ourselves?
The great thing about re-assessing or role in front of the class comes from the last part of "Refocus".
Sometimes the surprise isn't given to the students; it comes from them.
instructors should be refocus some times when there is a problem with any student, because after a while instructors lost track or forgot some students interventions.
As an instructor one can can be so occupied with trying to grade papers, keep up with the syllabus,come up with new and exciting ideas to stimulate the students,coming a little before class and staying a few minutes after to answer questions of non traditional students who work full time and only have that time- it can be overwhelming.So the REFOCUS strategy is very helpful . I found that it helps me to feel balanced again by reminding me of why we are here and how our content has value to us and to our career students. Doing this as a mid course evaluation really lets instructors know what new directions they made need to take , to deliver content with the highest benefit for students.
Not every student is the same. It is necessary to recreate instructional material not only to keep up to date with information, but to maintain a freshness of the empowerment of the student. When a student believes that the learning they are receiving is meaningful to them personally, then they are more likely to develop behaviors that reflect that learning. By refocusing, an instructor also has the opportunity to learn for themselves, new and exciting ways of presenting material. Thus developing a vast file of methods of teaching that can be drawn on for different students in different environments.
Hi Rulon,
Great idea, thanks for sharing it. I use a method for student feedback similar to yours but I think yours is more simple. Two columns plus or minus you (meaning student) tell me what you are feeling as a student in this course. I bet you get great feedback and are able to incorporate the information into how you change the course the next time you teach it.
Gary
Teachers need to refocus because being able to regroup and assess how things are going refreshes motivation for the instructor. I use an activity called "plus(+)/delta(-) in my classes to assess how things are progressing. I give the students a piece of paper and ask them to list the +'s on one side and the -'s on the other side. I collect them, read them, and then produce the results for discussion with the students. This helps me refocus.
Gary,
As I mentioned in the earlier forum question, it is just as easy for an instructor to get into a "rut" as it is for a student. If you do not take the time to REFOCUS and add more variety as the semester goes on, you can possibly wipeout a lot of the good you have previously accomplished. Refocusing has to become a part of your teaching as well as knowledge of the subject. Because I teach marketing and advertising there are many different scenarios I use to keep the students motivated.
Hi Tony,
You make a good point. Student regression is easy to create if you become bored with what you are teaching. You have to bring excitement to the classroom each time you step into it.
Gary
Gary,
It is just a easy for a teacher to get into a "rut" as it is for the students. You should be able to see it coming by just watching and listening to the students. If you do not take the time to REFOCUS you will see a downturn in yourself as well as in the students. If you let this happen all of the good learned in the first half could be wiped out.
Hi Gabriel,
What a great professional development plan. You are not only putting yourself in your students' shoes you are challenging yourself as well. Keep up the good work because I know your students are benefiting from your efforts.
Gary
Hi Helen,
It is easy to fall into a routine that doesn't impart excitement to the students about what is being taught. This can cause a number of different problems for instructors especially in the area of student management so we need to keep fresh and creative in our instruction. This way we can keep the students engaged throughout the course phase.
Gary
One of the advantages of taking additional courses in another discipline, especially in unfamiliar, or uncomfortable, subject areas is that it pushes me to analyze how I learn, and to identify the kind of informatiom that raises my blood pressure and anxiety levels.
It's easy to forget how much emotion plays in adult learning. Anyone who has ever taught a course like math, accounting, or other number-based subject, knows all to well how many bad memories get conjured by this kind of learning. Tears are not uncommon.
By understanding what works for me when I try to learn subjects that are hard on me, I come up with strategies for students to:
1. Work through the fear;
2. Develop standardized, step-by-step methods that demystify the concepts.
Because we all get burned out. By stepping back and re-evaluating will result in a more energizing and refreshing restart. That is why we have different breaks -spring break, holiday break, etc. But sometimes you have to create your own break when your enthusiasm slackens. We all know when that happens and must regroup to remain effective in the classroom.
Sometimes we get stuck in our way of teaching. It is important to recognize that each class is different as well as each student.
Hi Gary,
Teaching a class in the same way for a period of time an instructor can become less enthusiastic about his/her subject matter. Some of my most interesting classes were ones where the teacher applied our class studies to life situations. That took into account the changing way the teacher taught his/her class to make it new and fresh each period. In that manner the teacher was learning just like the student. Using a different method to encourage students to think is necessary because students learn differently.
Josh
Listening to my students comments aboat not understanding parts of lecturs or wanting to see animations.These things cause me to review arreas and to better explain things and to change a lecture.
Hi Allen,
Student monitoring is important just for the reasons you stated. This is what customizing instruction is about. You keep the students progressing in their learning while modifying the sequence of instruction.
Gary
As a instuctor I need to monitor my students progress in the course to know how their skills have progressed.I can then determine how to maximize the time remaining in the course to provide my students with the most important training for their success in the field.
Hi Larry,
Exactly! If students know they can get an instructor off track they will do so. This way they don't have to work on the day's topic. Instructors can't let that happen or they will never cover the needed content.
Gary
Hi Daniel,
Excellent point on how to remain fresh as the instructor plus keep the material fresh. The step back process helps instructors to see with "fresh eyes" so they can plan accordingly when it comes to a new group of students.
Gary
